Roulette (which is French for little wheel) is a casino game in which players bet on which numbered red or black numbered compartment of a spinning wheel the ball will land in. The game originated in the 18th century and its modern form was invented by a French physicist named Blaise Pascal. Various betting systems have been devised over the years to beat the house edge of this simple but elegant game.
Before the dealer spins the roulette wheel, players place bets on which number or grouping of numbers they think will appear by laying down chips on a special table-bound mat with precise location markers that correspond to the compartments on the roulette wheel. Bets are placed against the house and winning bets are paid out at varying odds depending on their placement. Bets on six or fewer numbers are called Inside bets and those on 12 or more are called Outside bets. The simplest bet is on a single number and pays out 35 to 1 if it wins. Other popular bets include odd/even, red/black and the first, second, or third dozen of numbers.
When a player wins a bet the dealer clears the table of losing bets and pays out the winners before beginning another round. Regardless of the outcome, a winning bettors should always cash out their chips as quickly as possible. This helps to keep the bankroll on a stable course and avoid dipping into winnings to make additional bets.
A good casino Roullete strategy begins with calculating the budget for the session or timeframe that you want to play within. This is called creating a “casino wallet,” or a dedicated amount of money that you are going to bet with. This method is not foolproof but it does help to avoid unnecessary losses.
It is also important to know the differences between American, European and French Roulette. The latter two have 37 slots on the wheel while the American version has an extra green zero slot. This increases the probability of losing a bet but is mitigated by the La Partage and En Prison rules that give back half your bets on even/odd and red/black bets respectively.
Many players try to predict the results of a particular game by watching other players and trying to do the opposite of what their opponents are doing. This practice is often considered cheating and may result in a ban from the casino. A better way to improve your odds of winning is to use a proven system like the Martingale System. This requires a large bankroll to sustain doubling your stakes after each loss until you win. It is based on the Fibonacci mathematical sequence and should be used in conjunction with other strategies. However, it is important to remember that no betting system can overcome the basic laws of probability.